Parents need to know that this star-studded romcom is heavy on familiar faces (including Ashton Kutcher, Lea Michele, Zac Efron, Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert De Niro, and many more) and short on depth. New Year's Eve follows several interconnected storylines as people try to make amends for the past year and ring in the new one; the stories are simplistic and saccharine, and though the messages are well meant and everyone's striving to be a good person, there aren't many believable role models. There's plenty of kissing and romance, plus some drinking and swearing (including "s--t" and one memorable "f--k"), and tons of enormous billboards touting products in Times Square.

Families can talk about how New Year's Eve portrays dating and romance. Ask your teens if this is what they think adult relationships are really like.

Did you identify with any of the characters' storylines? Which ones seemed the most believable? Which ones felt completely implausible?

What's the significance of New Year's Eve as a holiday? Is it important to have someone special to celebrate it with? What does the beginning of a new year mean to you?

The good stuff

Messages: The many characters in the film demonstrate hope, optimism, forgiveness, and -- most of all -- love.

Role models: Everybody here is striving to be the best person they can be. It's certainly positive, though few of them come across as believable characters.

What to watch for

Violence: One character slaps another in a long-planned but ultimately unsatisfying retaliation.

Sex: Many romantic kisses at midnight as the new year arrives, as well as one somewhat graphic proposition for sex with two willing women that a man turns down.

Language: Some swearing, including "ass," "s--t," "damn," "hell," "oh my God" (as an exclamation), and one loud "f--k" as a woman struggles to give birth.

Consumerism: Much of the movie takes place in Times Square, with characters surrounded by enormous billboards for every product imaginable, including Toshiba (which sponsors the square's New Year's Eve ball), Nivea, and Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows (another movie released by New Year's Eve distributor) Warner Bros. Also Moet champagne.

Drinking, drugs and smoking: Several scenes feature people drinking to ring in the New Year, though hardly anyone seems drunk, rowdy, or out of control.

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